Schools should respect children's privacy post-examinations
By Dickson Tumuramye
A friend's child was distraught after a disappointing performance, and fear arose that he might harm himself. He wished to keep his 'poor' results confidential. In the recently released UACE examination, he anticipated 18-20 points but only achieved 13, and felt he failed miserably.Though comforted by his parents
during counseling with an assurance of confidentiality, his distress escalated
when the school released exam results, including pictures, on social media.
This not only intensified his self-loathing but also bred resentment towards
the school for publicizing his marks without consent.
This scenario isn't unique; many
students face such emotional turmoil. Instances of children resorting to
drastic measures post-PLE examination results in the past 5 years underscore a
distressing trend that some have resulted in committing suicide. Parents and
schools need to do something to alleviate the pressure on both
students and teachers.
It raises questions as to why
schools insist on publicizing students' marks and images across various
platforms without their consent. Is their quest for publicity oblivious to the
emotional toll it exacts on students grappling with disbelief and denial about
their performance? Do they comprehend the psychological impact, potentially
triggering depression and affecting their mental health?
Government intervention is imperative
to curb this trend. Schools should be mandated to seek explicit consent from
students and parents before publicizing results. Some of these children
struggle with school fees and other requirements and no one comes out to help them. They are
Schools need to first seek
consent from their students and parents. Moreover, if schools wish to showcase
their achievements, they can do so without attaching names and pictures to
marks. Such practices demoralize students. Is this invasive publicity the best
marketing strategy? Can't a school's performance speak for itself? Must they
include every student, even those with minimal scores of three points?
But again, consider the emotional
impact on a student who tried their best but isn't recognized among the top
performers. It communicates a lack of appreciation for their efforts during
their time at the school.
In essence, I strongly denounce
this practice and extend empathy to affected students and parents. We can and
should aspire to do better next year.
The Ministry of Education and
Sports should take a decisive stand, regulating and providing guidelines on
safeguarding students' privacy and confidentiality. Even in a free economy, the
MOE&S exerts influence over all schools.
The Writer is the executive
director of Hope Regeneration Africa, a parenting coach, marriage counselor,
and founder of the Men of Purpose mentorship program.
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